Business insurance in Squamish

Most local businesses need less than they fear and more than they have

Commercial insurance sounds like a large-company problem. In a town like Squamish most of what I write is for one to ten person operations — a contractor, a guiding outfit, a shop, a consultant working from a spare room. The coverage is usually more affordable than people expect, and the gaps are usually in predictable places.

What Squamish businesses actually ask for

• Commercial general liability. The one most contracts, venues and municipalities require before you can start work
• Tools and equipment. Frequently stolen from vehicles and job sites, and frequently uninsured or under-insured
• Commercial auto. If the vehicle is used for work, a personal Autoplan policy may not respond. This is a common and expensive surprise
• Professional liability (errors and omissions), for anyone giving advice or providing a professional service
• Business interruption, which matters more in a seasonal economy than a year-round one
• Home-based business coverage. Your home policy almost certainly does not extend to business activity — even a small online one

Tourism, guiding and outdoor operators

The Sea to Sky has a concentration of businesses that most insurance forms were not written for — guiding, instruction, rentals, events, seasonal operations. Those need a conversation rather than a form, because the right answer depends on what you actually do, where, and with whom. Tell me the real shape of the business and I will tell you honestly whether I can place it well.

Certificates of insurance

If a contract, a client or the District has asked you for a certificate, that is usually a quick turnaround. Send me what they have asked for — the wording matters — and I will get it issued rather than guessing at what they want.

Common questions